Police Commission backs a 12% increase in LAPD budget for next year

Officers walk outside LAPD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday approved a $213-million budget increase for the Police Department next year, a plan that would raise police staffing levels. Craig Lally, president of the union representing police officers, said the commission’s support for more police officers is a “stride in the right direction” amid rising crime incidents, including the shooting death of a man on Sunset Boulevard on Tuesday morning. “As the city grapples with increases in gun crimes, homicides and fatal follow-home robberies, it is critical that the department recovers from the ‘defund the police’ cuts and that city leaders stop listening to the reckless ideas of anti-police groups,” Lally said. “Because we know what keeps us safe, it’s resources, it’s resources.” Garcetti, asked Tuesday about the proposed LAPD budget, said the city “needs to put dollars into crime-fighting that works and into programs that work.” He also said he supports hiring to “not fall further, which is a real worry.” The mayor spent the morning highlighting a program that sends outreach workers rather than law enforcement to respond to 911 calls related to homeless individuals.